Literary Devices and Story Elements Flashcards
What are literary devices and why do we use them?
to enhance the author’s writing and the readers enjoyment/understanding. they are optional, but that aid us in analyzing texts.
conflict
the root of the problem(s) in a text
the climax or climactic moments are caused by these conflicts
six types of conflict
Types of conflict
character vs character
character vs technology/machine
character vs himself
character vs nature
character vs society
character vs supernatural
What is a simile
when one thing is compared to another to show its similarities
a simile compares using the words like or as
What is a metaphor
a metaphor is a direct comparison, without using the words like has
still used to show the similarity between two things
Foreshadowing
when the author leaves hints about what will occur later in the book
can be good or bad events
can be created through dialogue, atmosphere, repetition, etc.
Symbolism
when something in a story has a deeper meaning; it symbolizes or represents a greater idea
can be an objects, person, or event
imagery
the use of descriptive language to paint a picture in the reader’s mind
lots of adjectives and adverbs are used
enhances the writing with vivid descriptions
plays on our five senses (sight, smell, touch, taste, sound)
onomatopoeia
when a word is written exactly as it sounds
onomatopoeic words are often found in comic books
ex. Zip! Smack! Buzz! Rip!
characterization
when a character is described in great detail
two types of characterization
The two types of characterization
direct characterization
indirect characterization
direct characterization
an author describes a character using adjectives and clear descriptions of his/her physical appearance or personality
indirect characterization
the reader is left to deduct what a character is like based on situations, dialogue and actions
irony
when something happens which is totally expected or unintended
the opposite of what we assume will happen, happens
mood
this creates an emotional atmosphere
writing will allow us to “feel” the mood of the text : sad, happy, scary, nervous, etc.
we can better understand an author or character’s attitude
can also foreshadow future events
flashback
this is when there is a break in the timeline of a story (“flashback”)
used to highlight important events or ideas from the past in order to provide context to the present
often exposes a character’s past, in order for a readers to gain a deeper understanding of him/her
usually indicated with a page break in the text
hyperbole
this is an exaggeration in order to add detail/emphasis
not to be taken literally
What are story elements and why do we use them?
to enhance the author’s writing and better develop a story. They are essential to a story.
theme
NOT the subject
a theme is a lesson, idea or moral that the author is trying to teach
a text can have more than one theme
a theme is often longer than one word
protagonist
the main character in a story. they usually focus on him/her.
antagonist
the person who goes against the protagonist. Usually the “bad guy” or the “villian”
secondary character
Major: almost as important as the protagonist. They help move the story forward
Minor: characters who are not seen often, but still contribute minimally to the story.
foil
a secondary character who contrasts the protagonist, in order to highlight their differences. Usually, this character’s qualities compliment the protagonist’s.
flat
usually minor characters in a story, not well developed, can be easily defined in a single sentence because we know little about the character.
round
usually major character in a story, fully developed personalities, very convincing ( like they are real )
dynamic
usually the protagonist, someone who changes and grows throughout the story, character comes to some sort of realization that changes him/her
static
usually minor characters, characters does not change/stays the same
What is a plot
The plot of the story is the storyline. In order for the story to keep us engaged, it must be properly developed from start to finish. This is typically represented by the story arc, which includes five steps
What are the five steps of a plot
exposition: setting, main characters, initial conflict(s)
rising action : events begin to unfold, the conflict(s) build
climax: the main conflict erupts and must be solved
falling action: the conflict slowly resolves
resolution: the conclusion of the story
genre
The genre is the type of story (fiction, non-fiction, fairy tale, biography,etc.)
genres can be even more specific ( romance, horror, drama,etc.)
each genre has specific characteristics - stories should meet most of the criteria in order to fit this genre
stories can be more than one genre
ex. rom-com, sci-fi
What is a point of view
point of view is based on how the story is written ( narrator vs author )
Types of point of view
first person narration: i
second person narration: you ( rarely used )
third person narration: he/she
What is a setting
The setting is the time and place in which a story takes place.
if available, ithe setting also includes the environment ( weather, season, temperature, etc. )
when looking for a setting, as yourself:
where?
when?
